[BUG] `npm init <package>` doesn't use newer version if existing version is semver-major incompatible

[giltayar]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Current Behavior

(the use of @roundforest is just an example.)

Using npm init @scope will use the latest version of the package, but only if the latest version is semver-minor/patch compatible with the version last used in nm init @scope. If it is semver-major changed, then it will continue to use the older version.

Expected Behavior

Always use the latest version of the init package, even if the semver-major version of the package is larger.

Steps To Reproduce

1. Run npm init @roundforest to run the @roundforest/create, which is currently at version 1.0.0. Works!
2. Publish a new version of @roundforest/create, version 1.1.0.
3. Run npm init @roundforest to run the @roundforest/create. It will ask to use v1.1.0, and uses it. Yay!
4. Now publish a new version of @roundforest/create, version 2.0.0 (semver incompatible with 1.1.0.
5. Run npm init @roundforest to run the @roundforest/create. It will NOT use version 2.0.0, even though I expect it to.
6. If I delete the npx cache of npm init, and try npm init @roundforest again, it will use version 2.0.0

Environment

• OS: macOS Big Sur
• Node: 16.3.0.
• npm: 7.15.1

[k8w]

Still have this problem.

My package is create-tsrpc-app.

It seems npx create-tsrpc-app always get the latest version of ^0, but the actual latest major version is 1.x.

To test it:

npx create-tsrpc-app -v

Get 0.2.13

npx create-tsrpc-app@latest -v

Get 1.x

[ruyadorno]

#4929 is related to this, I would appreciate if anyone can confirm if the issue is still happening after updating to npm@8.12.0

[wraithgar]

This does appear to be fixed now.

~/D/n/s/init $ npm init @gar/test@1
Need to install the following packages:
  @gar/create-test@1.0.20
Ok to proceed? (y) 
Gar's test create script version 1.0.20
~/D/n/s/init $ npm init @gar/test
Need to install the following packages:
  @gar/create-test@2.0.3
Ok to proceed? (y) 
Gar's test create script version 2.0.3